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Washington State

July 12, 2020

Tips for a Safer Family Vacation During Coronavirus Pandemic

A beach on the Kitsap Peninsula with rocks, saltwater and firs.
Eglon Beach, Washington State

Is it possible (or responsible) to take a family vacation during a pandemic? How about getting a vacation rental?

I say yes—maybe. While it is an individual risk decision, I’m also making a judgment call and taking a risk for those in my family, my community where I usually live, and the community I’m visiting. So I wouldn’t undertake it lightly, and wouldn’t go if under stay-at-home restrictions were in place.

I’ve done enough reporting on the topic to hear doctors describe the death process for those with COVID-19: they die alone, without loved ones around. Their last human interaction is with a doctor or nurse who is fully suited up in protective gear, holding an iPad while you say goodbye to your kids or grandkids over Zoom. I don’t want to be responsible for that person’s exit—whether burdening family, physicians, coroners or even strangers.  

We went on a “pandemic vacation” this year, and these were the boundaries that felt right for me and our family of six (kids ages 7, 9, 14, 20), which I hope made it safer. There are no guarantees with this coronavirus, and we’re finding out more every day.

1. Choose a Hyperlocal Travel Destination

I would never travel out of state, for public health and safety reasons. We chose to be within 90 minutes to two hours of our own community/town. We wanted to reduce the need to stop en route. So we went to a rural area outside of Poulsbo, reachable by a ferry ride and a short drive.

We chose to be close, because if we needed medical assistance or anyone became ill, we would return to Seattle. Most rural communities have far fewer healthcare resources than we do in the city. Those rural resources should be reserved for the people who live there—not tourists. I also wouldn’t visit a destination with uncontrolled pandemic numbers, low mask usage and overwhelmed healthcare facilities, such as the Tri-Cities. They have enough problems, they don’t need more humans on their roads or streets.

For Seattle residents, the 90-minute to two-hour zone is a fairly large area, and includes the Cascades’ western slopes, north to Bellingham, south to Olympia, and areas of the Olympic Peninsula.

As well, if someone were to get injured or end up in the ER for an emergency condition, or got suddenly sick while 12 hours away, we’d be stuck there. I didn’t want to be stuck in rural Oregon for an extended period with a COVID-19 infected loved one, taking up a hospital spot while also paying for a long-term rental.

2. Pandemic Road Trip Tips

We didn’t have far to go, but we still packed for any emergencies. We had lots of water, snacks, hand sanitizer, wipes, disposable gloves and masks. So many masks. We didn’t want to stop en route, so fueled up and encouraged bathroom breaks before we left.

We limited any interactions with the local community; any interactions that happened indoors happen with masks. We may be infected and not yet showing symptoms—we don’t need to infect others. Others may be asymptomatic but contagious—we don’t need them to infect us.

On the ferry, we didn’t get out of the car. We didn’t use the public bathrooms on the ferry, or anywhere else. We wore masks when interacting with toll workers. In line, I did see an SUV with Arizona license plates, and I can only hope it was someone who’s moved here and hasn’t changed their plates yet.

3. BYOG (Bring Your Own Groceries & Gear)

Most evidence has shown that COVID-19 is efficiently transferred indoors. So we brought most of the groceries we needed, then one adult picked up perishable groceries once.

At the same time, I wanted to support small business owners struggling to make ends meet during pandemic times. We ordered doughnuts once from Sluy’s, and to-go Indian food from Punjab.

4. Find the Right Vacation Rental

We found a vacation rental through AirBnB, not a hotel—and made sure it had plenty to do on-site. We rented a large house with a full kitchen, grassy area and woods for exploring—and cabinets full of board and card games. It also has an outdoor firepit for s’mores.

The house we rented leaves it empty for four days between guests to decrease surface transmission chances. We didn’t interact with the owner other than briefly, outdoors, more than 6 feet away. Everything else was done over AirBnB text.

Camping also seems like another great and affordable option, if you can swing it (or find a site). Sharing a campsite bathroom could be problematic, but hopefully, it’s a safe choice with enough masks and hand sanitizer.

5. Shelter-In-Place Vacation, On-Site

We set expectations early—while I would love to take everyone to the local museums, go shopping, dine out or browse bookstores, we can’t bring our family into that situation.

Surrounded by fir and maple trees and greenery on the Kitsap Peninsula, there are plentiful outdoor beach and forest hikes nearby (and not many people). It’s different and beautiful than our normal city life.

6. Don’t Travel with Others

We have a blended family, meaning that the children transition between houses. Even though it sounded fun to bring along a friend, there’s just no way to safely travel in one car with someone outside the family, unless planning to quarantine before or after or get swabbed.

Many outbreaks along the Oregon Coast have been traced to multi-family or extended-family gatherings in beach houses.

Before leaving, we ensured exes were okay with where we were going, how long we were going for, and the family group’s makeup.

7. Keep Costs Down

We’re lucky to have had some savings that we put aside for a trip this summer (and a sweet AirBnB coupon to make up for a host cancellation last year). So many people have no work, and even I’ve been hustling to make up for lost clientele. This is probably the only trip we’ll be on in the next year, and it’s the first time we left Seattle since February.

But I feel lucky to be alive and healthy, and I take my luck seriously. I’d love it if we could return to jobs and travel and some semblance of normalcy—as our neighbors in Canada are enjoying, currently.

But that will require us all to wear masks and take our neighbor’s health as seriously as we take our own.

If you went on a trip recently or want to share some pandemic-travel tips, please share them below.

Filed Under: Poulsbo, Road Trips, Seattle-Tacoma

February 5, 2020

Seattle Cat Cafes and Vancouver Cat Cafes

I first visited a cat cafe in Tokyo, and was so happy when cat cafes started popping up in the Pacific Northwest. I mean, what’s better for adults or children than making small talk with a cat while drinking a cappuccino? Okay, maybe cappuccinos + kids don’t mix. Hot chocolate or ice cream is a better idea.

A few things to know before you go to a cat cafe (with or without kids):

  • Cats are cats. They may interact with you or they may just ignore you. Frantic, needy behavior tends to spook kitties. Remember: Cats needs to sleep up to 18 hours a day, much like a newborn.
  • Like all of their purrrsuasion (shhh! I get ONE PUN), these cats will like you more if you have treats. Some cat cafes provide treats for an extra price, or it may be included.
  • Most cat cafes have minimum ages for visitors. It might be best to take toddlers elsewhere.
  • Cat cafes primarily exist to find cats a “forever home.” While pricing may sometimes feel like light extortion ($30 for an hour of cats ignoring you and the kids?), money funds the space, pays wages, and provides cat care to kitties with out homes. If you’re on a budget, sign up for a cat cafe’s e-mail list, where you can often find good deals, such as $5 off or student pricing.
  • Don’t bring anyone who has impulse-control issues or otherwise can’t follow what can be fairly comprehensive rules. For example, not picking up cats. That goes for you too, adults.
  • Some cat cafes allow you to bring your coffee into the room with the cats, while other don’t, or only allow some items (such as drinks, but not cookies).
  • Wash your hands, and your kids’ hands both before and after visiting with cats. Some cats are immune-compromised and could easily get sick from tourist (or local) germs.
  • Cat cafes are busiest on weekends, like most destinations. Make a reservation in advance, if possible, if you want to visit on a weekend.

Vancouver-Area Cat Cafes

Catoro Cafe.

This cafe’s charming “cat forest” is where adults and kids can interact with kitties in a large, forest-themed room filled with yep…you guessed it—cat trees. The process of removing your shoes and sanitizing your hands is most similar to the Japanese experience. Bring socks.

Where: East Broadway, in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Cafe options: This cat cafe offers fun, sugary beverages like pearl-cloud tea, bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, and milk tea, along with mochi muffins.

Age restrictions. No children ages 4 and under. An adult must accompany children between the ages of 5 and 10.

Cost: Weekday admissions are in segments of 30 minutes for $8, and $2.50 for every additional 15 minutes. On weekends, you get 15 minutes for $5.75, 30 minutes for $85, 50 minutes for $11.50. For $17, you get 65 minutes and a drink.

Website: https://catorocafe.com/


Catfe.

This Vancouver cat lounge was one of Canada’s first cat cafes, and was opened thanks to crowfunding success. Here, you and the kids can mingle with adoptable kitties while drinking an “ameowicano” or “hot chococat” ($3.95).

Location: Downtown kid-friendly Vancouver, near Gastown in Tinseltown Mall.

Cafe options: Handcrafted coffee drinks, adorable cat-themed treats and Hello Kitty cookies, vegetarian food such as quiches, scones and vegan cheesecakes. Gluten-free and vegan food is available.

Advance booking necessary? Not required, but a good idea.

Age Requirements: Ages 5 and up.

Cost: $10/person for one hour

Website: https://catorocafe.com/


Neko Cat Cafe Bellingham.

Yes, this cat cafe isn’t technically in Vancouver, but it’s an easy day trip for both Vancouver and Seattle families. This cafe will open in winter of 2020, and promises to be as great as its sister site in Seattle.

Location: Bellingham, Washington.

Serves: Coffee, wine, beer and all the cat-themed treats you could imagine. See the Seattle description below.

Advance booking necessary? Probably wise on the weekends.

Age Requirements: No requirements, but every two children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost: $11/hour

Website: https://nekoseattle.com/neko-bellingham

Seattle-Area Cat Cafes

Kitty Corner.

This Seattle-area cat cafe is a little different from others, but has some cool extras such as a kid-friendly Meowvie Night (watch movies with cats!), Kitty Kraft (make crafts with cats!), birthday parties (celebrate your birthday with cats!), and more. Cats here come from kill shelters in California. Another advantage of Kitty Corner: no minimum age restrictions, and kids age two and under are free.

Location: Edmonds, Washington, about a 30-45 minute drive from downtown Seattle, depending on traffic.

Serves: Some packaged snacks, soda pop and water is available, but not a full cafe.

Advance booking necessary? No.

Age requirements: All ages are allowed, as long as they can follow the cafe’s rules. That goes for you too, adults.

Cost: Kids 2 and under are free; Kids 15 and under are $4, 16+ and adults are $8; Adults 55+ are $6. Perfect for a grandma-kid outing.

Website: https://www.kittykornerrescue.org/


Seattle Meowtropolitan.

One of the first cat cafes in Seattle with a large cat-visiting room and enormous picture windows looking outside. However, it’s also one of the most strict, restricting kids until they’re 8 years old.

Where: Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood.

Cafe options: Barista-made espresso drinks and fresh brewed teas, along with cat-themed cookies and savory treats.

Advance booking necessary: You can sign up for a spot online, or try your chance at a walk-in.

Age requirements: Ages 8 and up only. Family Day offers 50 minute visit for $12 per person, child or adult. There must be one adult ticket purchased for every two, and the adult must stay with children.

Cost: $13 for 50 minutes, 40 minutes in the cat lounge.

Website: https://seattlemeowtropolitan.com/


Neko: A Cat Cafe.

This sunny, bright cat cafe is small, but friendly, and limits entry so the space never feels overly crowded. As well, all ages are admitted. Ensure your child is ready for the rules here, as the cats all have feline leukemia, and there can be some fragile kitties in here.

Where: Located in Seattle’s cool Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Cafe Options: Photogenic/Instagram-worthy Pusheen and Totoro treats, along with coffee and alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine. A quick note: They do not accept cash, so don’t forget your plastic.

Advance booking necessary: Yes, definitely. Or you’ll be waiting.

Age requirements: Children of all ages are admitted, but those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. No more than two children per adult are permitted entry.

Cost: $12/person for 55 minutes, and all reservations start on the hour.

Website: https://nekoseattle.com/

Neko Cat Cafe in Seattle, a kid-friendly cat cafe

Catffeinated.

One of the newest cat-cafes on the block, this cafe aims for the small-scale experience, limiting visitors to just 10 at a time. The cat room is surrounded by glass, so cafe visitors can watch kitties having fun.

Where: In Tacoma.

Cafe Options: Espresso drinks and tea, juice, along with sandwiches, cake pops and cookies. You can’t bring food and drink into the cat area.

Advance booking necessary: Yes.

Age requirements: Children must be over 8 years old, although special “Kids Days” permit a wider range of ages and have fun extras like face painting.

Cost: $10/person

Website: https://catffeinated.net/

Filed Under: Seattle, Vancouver

February 4, 2020

18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington is undoubtedly one of the most well-known Washington Water Parks. Whether you’re going for a birthday party, with one of the new day passes, or for a warm, light-filled spring break from always-rainy skies, Great Wolf Lodge is definitely a family favorite.

But before heading to any big-ticket, big-adventure resort with kids, it’s always best to ask an expert for tips. So I asked three British Columbia and Washington State moms who are repeat guests of Great Wolf Lodge for their best tips, and added a few more tips from my own research.

Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. You may have your own spin on a Great Wolf Lodge stay with kids.

New Post: Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes: Are They a Good Deal?

Great Wolf Lodge: Basic Tips

Tip 1. Save money on your room

If you think about it, you’re mostly going to Great Wolf Lodge for the water and family-friendly environment, not the room. So this is an area to save, unless you plan to spend a lot of downtime in the suite.

The themed suite rooms (Wolf Den, KidKamp and Kid Cabin) at Grand Mound Great Wolf Lodge are cute and fun, “but we have found that you are not in your room long enough to make them worth the cost, if you can fit in a smaller room,” says frequent Great Wolf Lodge visitor and Kelso mom Melissa Parcel.

If you’re going with another family, have a very large family, or are thinking about a birthday party at Great Wolf Lodge, consider one of the premium rooms, where you can squeeze more people into a suite—with water-park wrist bands for everyone, up to the room’s maximum capacity. 

As well, although I’ve stayed primarily in smaller rooms in the past, last year I got to experience the much larger Majestic Bear Suite while staying at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound with three kids. It was pretty amazing to have the mental and physical space.

A perfectly fine room at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound
A suite room at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound with fold-out couch bed

Check Great Wolf Lodge’s website with special deals and coupon codes when booking, or sign up for sales alerts by providing your e-mail and cell number.

Remember that the resort fee ($29.99) and taxes do add a hefty amount to the final price. You can also check for Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deals.

You can also now request late-check out at 2:00, for $54.99, which ends up being about $18/hour. Is it worth it? Hard to say.

Find more tips for saving money at Great Wolf Lodge at the site Thrifty NW Mom.

Tip 2.  Sleep soundly—even at a crazy-busy water park.

For a quieter room, request a room away from the stairwells and on the opposite side of the I-5 freeway. Ask when making the reservation and upon check in.

Although there’s a rule about “quiet time” in the evenings, guests do say that unaccompanied children playing MagiQuest down the hallways can be an earful. Pack earplugs.

Tip 3. Book Great Wolf Lodge meals and activities in advance to save money and hassle.

If you’re really sure you want the on-site breakfast buffet at The Loose Moose Cottage (Yes, that’s the real name, 2.5 stars on Yelp), you can add a “Wolf Wakeup” breakfast package for $57.36 for four people (age doesn’t matter), whereas in person, a buffet meal may cost up to $20/adult. The total is lower when  purchased in advance and includes drinks. If you buy buffet on-site, it’ll cost more, and does not include drinks.

Tip: Children 3 and under eat in The Loose Moose for free, when another meal is purchased.

If you’d like to pay one price for all activities, add a Pup Pass, Wolf Pass or Paw Pass package to your stay. The Paw Pass is $59.99, and includes a lot MagiQuest or ShadowQuest wand and game, 20 points to use at the arcade, a 12-ounce candy cup (THIS IS A LOT OF CANDY BRING TOOTHBRUSHES), a scoop of ice cream, a round of glow golf, and a bag of gems from the Oliver’s Mining Company experience.

Dance party at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound

Tip 4. BYOB: Bring Your Own Breakfast

Or you could forgo resort breakfast altogether, as there’s a fridge and microwave in all Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound rooms.

Korene Torney brought her own breakfast and snacks (cereal, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables) for the mini-fridge. Melissa Parcel brought along cereal and doughnuts for breakfast and sandwich making items for the next day’s lunch.

Don’t forget to bring camping-style dining equipment (i.e. paper or tin plates, cups, bowls) for your in-room service.

Korene Torney’s family also went to two Oregon-born restaurant chains in nearby Centralia: McMenamins Olympic Club and Burgerville (two thumbs up for both of those destinations from Lora!).

Tip 5. Go for a midweek Great Wolf Lodge resort stay.

To avoid crazy lines at these Washington water slides and to take advantage of great deals, head to GWL during the midweek, suggests Korene Torney, a Victoria, British Columbia mom to two girls.

But first ask if the hotel’s hosting a convention during your stay, she says. Conventions can stretch the hotel’s capacity.

Tip 6. Display your cell smarts.

When you check in, you’ll get an information packet that offers a cell phone number to register on your phone. “I did this, and coupons were texted to me, “ says Kirkland, Wash., mom Shannon Maher Longcore, a mom to three kids and frequent Great Wolf Lodge guest. “It saved us some money in their restaurants.”

Tip 7. Bring these items to Great Wolf Lodge.

Some items are very, very spendy to replace on-site, should you forget them at home. Pack swim goggles, earplugs, flip-flops, Aqua Socks (if your bare feet don’t like all that pebbly concrete) and a swimsuit cover-up. A plastic or reusable bag for wet swimsuits is also recommended.

Swimsuit cover-ups are particularly necessary, Torney says: “You want one because otherwise you’re forced to wear clothes over your suit to get between room and pool.” Men should bring t-shirts or a robe.

Pajamas or warm bedtime clothing are good to bring for storytime.

You can also reserve a pack ‘n’ play for babies, but they’re first-come, first-served.

However, you don’t need to pack a towel—towels are provided for free by Great Wolf Lodge. Life jackets also come in several sizes, notes Longcore, so there’s no need to bring one from home.

If you forget something and don’t mind going out, there’s an outlet mall nearby where you can resupply.

Tip 8. Avoid financing your GWL stay

The lodge, in partnership with Affirm, now offer loans for GWL stays. The rates, however, are quite high, and can run up to 30% APR, higher than many credit cards. As well, the estimated payment amounts don’t include taxes and other fees.

Great Wolf Lodge Activity Tips

Tip 9. Dive into a two-day Grand Mound resort stay

Your pass into the GWL starts at 1 p.m. (you can access your hotel room after 4 p.m.), as long as you stop by the front desk to pick up your waterpark wrist bands.

On the second day, check-out time is 11 a.m., and you can stay until closing (8 or 9 p.m.).

There are changing rooms and lockers for use before check-in and after check-out, but the lockers are fairly expensive.

“We just put our suitcases in the car, and had a small day pack with our necessities in it. That worked out great,” says Longcore.

Tip 10. MagiQuest Pros and Cons

A complete MagiQuest or ShadowQuest game will come to more than $30 total. That’s around $16-$22 for the wand, and about $15 per “game.”

If it’s your first visit, Melissa Parcel says you may want to wait to purchase the wands: “On our first trip, we caved and bought one for our son, but we spent all of our time in the water park and didn’t get any use out of the wand.”

Older kids seem to love the wand game, however, and repeat visitors seem to love playing MagiQuest.

If you leave near Great Wolf Lodge, you can visit at anytime just to play the MagiQuest game and run around the resort, which Melissa Parcel has done twice.

“It’s a pretty inexpensive day trip if you live a short distance away,” she says.

If you want to re-engage the wand, you’ll pay again, with each new visit. You can also use the wands at other properties (provided you pay the “re-up” fee).

Tip 11. Learn how to entertain teens at Great Wolf Lodge.

Teens will probably enjoy Great Wolf Lodge’s wave pool best, but they’ll probably also enjoy the arcade and newer Howlers Peak Ropes Course (not open in winter) for the day, at $19.99. The putt-putt golf is fine, but very small.

Teen activity at Great Wolf Lodge: Howlers Peak Ropes Course

The best way to bring a teen to Great Wolf Lodge is by allowing them to bring a friend and eat a lot of candy, IMO. 

Tip 12. Host grandma or friends while staying at the resort.

Purchase additional water park wristbands (for $41.20 each) for people visiting you at the water park, even if they’re not staying overnight.

Tip 13. Freeze Great Wolf Lodge-related tantrums and meltdowns.

“I think limiting pool play to three hours at a time works well,” Korene Torney says. After three hours, Torney’s family lets the kids eat and relax in the room.

It can also help to construct a schedule. Torney’s family wakes, eats in the room (with Starbucks from the lobby, delivered by her husband), goes on the morning “Howl Walk” at 9 a.m. (which includes a free craft), then pool time from 10-1.

They rest, and eat in the room or drive to Burgerville for lunch. Then it’s back into the pool around 5-7 p.m.; out in time for evening stories.

Tip 14. Water, water everywhere…but bring a drop to drink.

“The pool room is very warm, so just remember to  drink some fresh water while there,” says Longcore.

Longcore saw some episodes of possible kid-dehydration, despite all that chlorinated water around, some children forget to sip their drinking water. A Hydroflask keeps water nice and cold.

Tip 15. Carefully select GWL activities while on site.

There are many activities on-site, and at times, Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound feels like Vegas for kids. There’s glow-in-the-dark putt-putt golf, an arcade with prizes, a ropes course, Build-a-Bear workshop, Moonstone mine…it’s a lot.

I would limit kids to one activity while there, or you could end up spending hundreds of dollars and endure endless whining. Tell the kids they’ll get to pick one activity to do on the second day. Visit each location when you first arrive, and let the children carefully consider and weigh their options.

Or do as Korene Torney does, by giving kids an allowance of $15-20 each. “With $15, the kids can enjoy a craft, buy snacks or candy, a cheap souvenir, or pool the money together for one wand.”

As is usually the case with an allowance, this provided the perfect opportunity to teach them about the value of money while eliminating the perpetual ‘I wants,’” Torney says. “It worked great for us this year. They both bought ridiculous souvenirs, but enjoyed every minute of it.”

Tip: Bring your own hands-on activities, Torney says, and avoid spending too much on all the extras that cost extra (stuffed animals, putt-putt golf, and so on). You can pick up an inexpensive craft kit at Marshall’s or another discount store. 

Tip 16. Keep an ear and eye out for GWL freebies.

At times, there may be special free servings of cupcakes or cookies, free yoga classes, free crafts, evening dance parties, or other options you’d like to try out. Check the daily activity board, and read up on activity options in advance. Kids under age 3 eat for free in the Loose Moose, too.

Oh, and a set of wolf ears are included with your resort fee.

Tip 17. Snag your Great Wolf Lodge poolside spot.

“Friends of ours get down to the water area early and camp out at a table,” Longcore says. “If your kids are much older, and don’t need parents hovering, a table would be great.”

You can find more answers on the Great Wolf Ask-A-Mom site (but these answers seem to be pre-vetted by a corporate PR firm). 

Tip 18. Try some grown-up Great Wolf Lodge fun

The best part about taking older kids to GWL is that adults enjoy a cocktail or beer in the Lodge Wood Fired Grill while the kids watch a movie in the room or play MagiQuest. Or so I’ve heard. Your howlage may vary, depending on your kid’s maturity levels and ability to not go running into traffic. Leave lone wolves at your own risk.

Lodge Wood Fired Grill

Do you have great tips (or a promo or coupon code!) for families headed to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington State? Leave your tips in the comments.

Read more about British Columbia (BC) Water Parks and Water Slides.

Filed Under: Great Wolf Lodge, Water Parks, Pools & Amusement Parks Tagged With: Great Wolf, great wolf lodge, tips, Washington State, water parks

February 2, 2020

Are Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes a Good Deal?

“Can’t we just go for the day?” many a Great Wolf-hungry child has asked. Welp kids, after more than a decade, day passes are now available at Great Wolf Lodge.

However, you may be wondering in a Great Wolf Day Pass vs. Great Wolf Lodge Room battle, who wins?

How Much do Great Wolf Lodge Passes Cost?

I performed a bit of super-nonscientific research with the Great Wolf Day Pass Page and found that prices vary, but there are good deals to be had, for some families. For example:

If you book two weeks away on a midweek winter day, you’ll pay only $30/person for a full day, and $25/person for a half day (4 p.m. to close).

If you book the same day (Sunday), it’s $100/person for a half-day, and $125 to close.

I kept playing with the online tool, and found that day passes are priced much like airplane tickets. Prices go up with demand, and are dependent upon how full the Great Wolf Lodge is on a given day.

You can play with the booking engine to see what sorts of prices can be found, if you have a flexible family schedule.

Great Wolf Lodge Day Pass vs Hotel Room: Which Is a Better Deal?

Day passes are deals depending on your family size and timing. Parent-child midweek day trips could cost as little as $50+ gas. It’s not bad, especially in winter. 

For larger families, day passes aren’t a great deal, because $25*6 people = $150, which is almost as much as a Grand Mound KidKamp Suite (a lodge-themed hotel room, which isn’t even the cheapest option). The suite for up to six people for $209.99, bought directly from GWL. Water park passes for guests are included in the purchase.

Obviously, this is a better deal for larger families. You still have to watch out for the resort fees though, and I would never, ever recommend that anyone purchase a night’s stay using financing or credit.

You can enter the Great Wolf Lodge water park at 1 p.m. on check-in day and stay until closing on check-out day. If you bring a backpack, swimming suits, and snacks, you’ll be all set for a two-day waterventure, which would cost $300 + tax if you bought two days’ worth.

Who Needs a Day Pass and What’s Included?

All children who are 3 years and older need a Day Pass. The Day Pass offers access to the 84-degree year-round indoor waterpark (and outdoor in summer) including the Howlin’ Tornado, River Canyon Run, and the dumping buckets of Fort Mackenzie, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., although some hours may change based on the date.

You can also participate in all on-site activities that are free (such as Story Time) and spendy (Grand Mound’s video game room is a straight-up dopamine fix that can turn bad in a hurry). Your kids can bring the MagicQuest wands from home, which is nice.

What Time Does Great Wolf Lodge Open and Close?

For day pass users, the Grand Mound lodge’s water park opens at 10 a.m., and I suggest getting there early to score a waterside chair. Of course, you can always arrive earlier to stroll around the property. Your Day Pass stops working when the water park closes, at 8 p.m. Always call first to ensure you’re arriving at the right time.

Once again, if you’re checking in to a hotel room, you can’t start using the water park until 1 p.m.

How Can I Save Money on My Day Pass?

You don’t need to buy a water park pass for children under the age of two. You can also use the Day Pass search tool to find a day that offers a good deal.

Is There a Great Wolf Lodge Groupon?

There are Groupons for staying overnight during lower seasons, and I’ve seen prices as low as $130. But I haven’t seen any Day Pass Groupons, although it doesn’t mean they don’t or won’t exist.

What Should I Pack for a Great Wolf Lodge Day Trip?

  • Bring a swimsuit, aqua socks, and flip flops. The Water Park is very warm and humid. Even if you don’t plan on going into the water, dress for the beach.
  • A change of clothing. The lodge exterior is super-casual but you can’t walk around in your bikini or speedo without catching looks or a cold. The lodge isn’t hot like the Water Park. You could also perhaps bring a warm cover-up, particularly if you plan to eat in the lodge area.
  • Bring your own towels, because you cant rent or check them out, as if you were a guest. You can buy towels on-site, or run out to a nearby store to pick up towels. You will need a lot of towels, more than you think.
  • A cooler for snacks. NOTE: You can’t bring your own coolers or outside food into the water park itself, but you can eat in the lodge. Or your car. But that sounds unpleasant, especially in winter.
  • Water bottle, because it is hot and humid inside the park.
  • Valid ID, such as a driver’s license or other official photo ID.
  • The credit card you used to buy the passes online.
  • Bring your books/Kindle/things to do, especially if arriving early enough to score a lounge chair. And once again, lots of towels.
  • A life jacket from home, but Great Wolf provides them as well. Keep in mind that kids under 48 inches tall are required to wear lifejackets, and weak swimmers who want to go into the wave pool should wear one as well.
  • Do not bring: Inflatable toys/floaties. Sorry, but they’re not allowed.

Are Lockers Available?

There are park-area lockers available to store your things, but they’re not cheap—$15 for small lockers, $20 for medium and $25 for large.

Can I Get a Refund on My Water Park Pass?

Nope. The passes are nonrefundable. Don’t get sick, kids!

Can I Buy a Great Wolf Lodge Pass On-Site?

No, you can only purchase passes on the Great Wolf Lodge website or by calling Customer Service at 800-905-9653. You buy the day pass, then pick it up at the front desk.

Filed Under: Great Wolf Lodge

February 2, 2020

All Aboard! Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth

First, the bad news: There’s only one Amtrak train per day from Seattle to Leavenworth (and vice versa). It leaves downtown at 4:40 and arrives at 8:00. On the return, the Amtrak leaves Leavenworth at 6:08 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 10:25 a.m.,and takes about 4 hours.

Now, the good news: The scenic three-hour, 20-minute ride between Seattle and Leavenworth on the Amtrak offers enchanting scenery and incredible views. Seat children next to the window to look for wildlife among the fir-layered mountainsides and rambling rivers. You’ll also pass through the second-longest tunnel in the U.S., the Cascade Tunnel, while traversing 4000-foot peaks.

You won’t deal with closed mountain passes or the twisting highways —  just sit back and relax in the giant seats. The only disappointment: the train’s schedule makes it impossible to go on a day trip. Visiting really requires two full days, particularly if you stay at a place like Sleeping Lady Resort.

leavenworth

13 Tips for Taking the Amtrak Train to Leavenworth

  1. Book your ticket through Amtrak.com and note that kids go half-price, which makes for a sweet (and less-expensive ride). Adult tickets range from $23-40+ each way, depending upon traffic volume. Also, check the Amtrak site’s Smart Deals area for discounts.
Kid on Amtrak Train
Kid on Amtrak Train

2. The Amtrak train departs from three stations en route to Leavenworth: Seattle King Street, Edmonds and Everett. Those living in North Seattle may want to board in Edmonds, while Snohomish County residents may want to board in Everett. South Seattle families can board at at King Street.

3. Parking is limited at King Street, Edmonds and Everett stations. Bring cash for any olden-days pay lots (though most take credit cards), and arrive at least a half-hour in advance to scope out your parking choices. Better yet, ask a friend to drop you off at the station or take a Lyft.

Vintage Amtrak Dining Car Menu
Vintage Amtrak Dining Car Menu

4. Weather and freight train backups can delay Amtrak trains. Our train from Edmonds to Leavenworth was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes; our return train from Leavenworth to Edmonds was delayed by three hours and 30 minutes. Sign up for alerts through the Amtrak.com site, and check the site for real-time schedule changes. If you’ll be arriving late at night (10:30 p.m. for us), you might think about how to set the kids up to sleep for an hour or two.

5. Meals are served aboard the train – but for lunch and dinner, only for those with reservations. Sign up as soon as you board the train headed toward Leavenworth, but realize that some seatings may sell out, and you may not make reservations when booking your ticket. Bring extra food if you think you might be hungry.

6. That said, our dinner was an unpleasant combination of mediocre and expensive; seemingly microwaved vegetable mix and rice, although the meat was okay. Maybe it was an off night (although others told us they had the same experience). The children’s menu was fine, although mostly made up of cheese and white bread. Bring your own meal, pack a hearty snack (by the time you get into town, everything will probably be closed) or ask your waitress what she would recommend.

Snacks are also served, but those prices aren’t much better. You may also be seated with strangers, if you’re a party of three. Here’s a link to the Empire Builder / Leavenworth train menu Eastbound (dinner, toward Leavenworth) and Westbound (breakfast, toward Seattle). The service was very good and homey, though. I’m pretty sure my waitress even called me “hon.”

Amtrak Dining Car
Amtrak Dining Car

7. Entertainment is limited, and there aren’t movies (as on the Cascades trains) but there are 120-volt plugs next to two-seat configurations. Bring a laptop, card games, books and quiet activity books.

8. Amtrak passenger seats offer generous proportions, with reclining seat backs, extendable trays, footrests and seat pockets. So don’t worry about leg room – think about three times the size of an airplane seat setup. Seat reservations aren’t available, but the conductor, whenever possible, will try to keep groups together.

Leavenworth Train Station
Leavenworth Train Station

10. The Leavenworth Amtrak station (‘Icicle Station”) is located only about a mile outside town along a quiet road, but you must walk up a steep hill without a wide shoulder. I would not attempt to walk this route with kids, but instead take Leavenworth Shuttle and Taxi, which charges about $5 per passenger.

11. Book your pickup in advance, and drop-off at the Leavenworth station. Our driver was courteous, prompt, and gave us frequent updates on the train delay. The driver does not have a carseat available for babies or younger children, so if that’s important to you, bring one with you.

12. The Leavenworth Amtrak train leaves early in the morning. Ask your hotel if they’re willing to pack a sack breakfast for you, to go. Our hotel, the Bavarian Inn, was happy to do so. Request this upon check-in or when making a reservation. The rain shelters are heated, so you’ll be warm while waiting. Heat lamps even warm outdoor waits, in Leavenworth. Spend a few moments at the stations to look at historic documents and knickknacks.

13. Amtrak rail employees seem both stressed and patient. Employees appear to be doing the best they can, despite demanding, upset passengers — some of whom stuffed paper towels into the toilets on our train, rendering the toilets inoperable. That wasn’t cool.

+1 More Tip: No changing tables are available on the train, so bring extra changing pads for baby. There are toilet receptacles for diapers in the bathroom, but you might want to double-bag any disasterous works.

View from Amtrak Rail Car
View from Amtrak Rail Car

Read more about things to do in Leavenworth hotels, Leavenworth for kids and Sleeping Lady Resort.

Filed Under: Leavenworth

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  • 18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge February 4, 2020
  • Are Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes a Good Deal? February 2, 2020
  • All Aboard! Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth February 2, 2020

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